Home explodes, bursts into flames in Howard Beach

Authorities are on the scene of a house explosion and fire in which a woman suffered critical injuries in Howard Beach, Queens.

Word of the explosion and fire first came into Eyewitness News shortly before 2:00 p.m.

NewsCopter 7 showed heavy fire and smoke rising from the scene at 84th Street between 162nd and 163rd Avenue.

Authorities sounded a second alarm around 2:20. Firefighters were being kept back from the building to fight the intense flames in case of another explosion.

A woman was inside the home at the time of the explosion. Neighbors managed to help her get out. She suffered severe burns, authorities said. She was taken to Jamaica Hospital in critical condition. Neighbors tell Eyewitness News that her husband is devastated.

Eyewitness News has learned that Rapid Repair work was done at this house to fix damage from Hurricane Sandy. Work on the gas service was supposed to be conducted within the past week.

Authorities said the fire was gas fed, but investigators are still trying to determine what sparked the explosion and fire.